Victim of 2012 plane crash shuts Dana office

May 9, 2013 by Eniola Akinkuotu

Omowunmi (middle) with some policemen. | credits: Eniola Akinkuotu

Business activities at the Allen Avenue office of Dana Airlines came to a halt on Wednesday after the owner of the two-storey building destroyed in the plane crash, Pastor Daniel Omowunmi, locked the main gate of the office and blocked the entrance with his Toyota Sports Utility Vehicle.

Omowunmi, who arrived Dana office at 5.30am, brought with him three iron chains and padlock which he used to lock out all employees of the company.

The ill-fated Dana flight 992 killed over 153 people on board, as well as approximately 10 other persons and caused injuries to many people on the ground.

The plane also crashed into Daniel’s house and factory and destroyed his property, which he said, was worth N500m.

Omowunmi told our correspondent that he decided to lock up the place because all attempts to get compensation from Dana had proved abortive.

He said, “In some weeks’ time, it will be a year that the plane crash occurred. I have not been working up till now. They destroyed my properties and rendered me jobless since June 3, 2012. Dana has commenced operation but it has not said anything meaningful about my case.

“Officials of the company have been going on air with all sorts of propaganda claiming that they have settled all those affected. That is why I have come here so that they can come out to tell me the kind of arrangements they have made, the amount they paid and who they gave it to.”

The pastor said the N500m he lost to the crash represented the value of his warehouse, publishing house, fish ponds and other businesses.

He said so far, only $30,000 (N4.8m) had been given to him by the company.

He said, “My properties are four plots of land with a detached six-bedroom building, two standard warehouses, a bungalow at the back of the warehouses and four fish ponds. Everything was destroyed, including my second jeep parked on the premises. My furniture, six container loads of books and five container loads of kitchen utensils all destroyed.

“Up till today, they have not said anything tangible and yet they are flying. If they think they will carry on with business like that and it is going to be easy, they must be joking.

“The claim I put before them is about N500m and up till now, the only thing they have made available to me after much pressure was $30,000 dollars to rent a house. After that, they have not been forthcoming. My lawyer actually persuaded me to collect the money.”

The area was tense as over 20 employees of the company waited outside the company and in the rain, which started around 4am.

Some of the employees, including an Indian, appealed to the pastor to open the gate and seek alternative means of pressing home his point but he refused.

Around 9am however, a team of policemen stormed the vicinity and one of the policemen, Corporal Giwa Mohammed, dragged the pastor into a Rapid Response Squad patrol vehicle with registration number 195LA.

A few minutes later, senior officers attached to Area F Command arrived at the scene and appealed to Omowunmi to unlock the gate.

Omowunmi, while fighting back tears, said life had become unbearable for him and he had been pushed to the wall.

He said, “I have not been able to meet my obligations to my family. I have three children. For the first time in my life, I had to get money from people to pay my children’s school fees last week.”

After much persuasion, however, the pastor unlocked the gate and followed the policemen to Area F.

It was learnt that the area commander, Tunde Adagunduro, had written a letter to the management of Dana, inviting them to a meeting with the pastor to prevent another episode.

When contacted on the telephone, the spokesperson for the airline, Tony Usidamen, said he was aware of the protest but could not confirm if Omowunmi’s claims were true since it was the insurance company that was in charge of compensation and not Dana.

He said, “I know some people have been compensated and I know that he (Omowunmi) was given some money. I however do not know the level of compensation because Dana does not handle compensation rather; the insurance company does.

“I will find out tomorrow to know how far with his payments. Our duty is to pay premium to insurance company and we just follow up to know the level of compensation.”

Police assault PUNCHman

As our correspondent was taking pictures of the drama at Dana office, a police corporal, Giwa Mohammed, dragged him by the shirt and seized his telephone.

He further threatened to kill our correspondent.

Mohammed said, “Who gave journalists the right to take pictures here? You should have taken permission before taking pictures. I received a distress call to come here and I am doing my job.”

Mohammed then ordered our correspondent to delete all previously taken pictures from his telephone.

The corporal, along with his colleagues, attempted to intimidate our correspondent and hurled insults at him.

It took the intervention of senior police officers to call the overzealous policemen to order.

Dis is sometin, dis pastor shld take it easyn take d moni being offered as comp nd leave it in d hands of God

punchfan

Eloks, if you were to find yourself in this circumstance you will do worse. Pastors are human being as well.

Atigua

Ha ha ha! Everything is God,God in Nigeria.Is God going to feed him and his family?

http://twitter.com/bunnyandcheeks ebs

leave what in God’s hands? how is he supposed to survive with his family when his means of survival is all gone? 4.8 million out of 500million, do you know what you are saying at all?

http://www.facebook.com/nelson.onwuka Nelson Onwuka

What money is he being offered. And what do you mean “nd Leave it in d hands of God”

Temitopeakinyemi

People like you who shift every civil responsibility onto God instead of getting on their feet to make things right are a big problem to the world and this country in particular. You are most likely one of them who brainwash the brainwashable xstians in churches that it is God who will change Nigeria and not we the citizens. should the man also leave the hunger and failing welfare of his family to God? Stupid ingoramus!

Obaf

Why didnt Jesus leave the marketers in the church to God’s hand that he drove them out himself. As a Christain, dont be a fool. Just always do the right thing with love of others in your heart. Be Christ like, DON”T BE A FOOL

edo

You are simply sick slave. Nigeria will never progress with this kind of cowardice attitude. God equally wants you to fight for your right before He could be of any assistance to you. Stop this nonsense talk!. Learn to fight for what you believe in even at the expense of your life or freedom.

tovo

But ΨђåƮ į̸̸̨§ dis uncle jona doing •̤̣̈̇₪ dat aso rock? ℓ know somebody will Sa♈ jona has noting to do wit dis. Bt he appointed an incompetent hand to βε̲̣ •̤̣̈̇₪ charge of aviation…no follow up •̤̣̈̇₪ all tђξ sectors of govt. anytin dat happens •̤̣̈̇₪ naija boils back to gej bcos he’s tђξ only president who appoints doctors to βε̲̣ •̤̣̈̇₪ charge of aciation. Mechanics to take over agric sectors. Engrs to take over tђξ health sector. Nawa º°˚˚°ºoo

Atigua

Write properly mate,i can’t read your post.

riche

As you rightly predicted,am saying that GEJ has got nothing to do with this,and if you fly around the country lately you will notice that the minister of aviation is not incompetent. Dana should deal with the victims in a more transparent and fair manner. We thank GOD that the pastor is still alive,may the souls of all those that died in the crash rest peacefully.

http://twitter.com/Gao2301 GO

This is what Banana Republic looks like…victims have to use this sort of tactic because our institutions does not work for a common man. To get result in Nigeria, commoners must use jungle justice and take laws into their own hand.

If Pastor Omowunmi trust the judicial system to do the right thing he would have pursued his grievance in the court of law. However, we know the judicial system only do the bidding of the rich and powerful. Case are adjourned in perpetuity without considering the effect on commoners.

In a civilized society, where institutions work, an insurance claim adjuster would have been sent to the site to evaluate the damages done, within 6 months a check would have been caught to compensate Pastor Omowunmi. The check would have covered the assets and income lost, including future income loss as calculated by the actuaries, provided the pastor kept his accounting book up to date.

Corruption and mediocrity is the root cause of Nigeria’s problem. The reality is that we can solve these problems if the people selected to lead our institutions are not corrupt and have the interest of their grandchildren at heart.

Simeon M

Thank you

omoba1

Well said GO

carl

The Pastor should use Onyeka Onwenu’s style she did to NTA some years back. There are so many injustices in Nigeria. I have been a victim of miscarriage of justice in a court where I lost several millions of naira. It was evident that the Chairman of the company that I sued lobied the judge to give the judgement in favour of his company. I took solace in Christ thereafter because I have no resources to pursue appeal. Its all these injustices that results to militancy in Nigeria.

igbiki

You should have gone for an appeal.

I think there was something called legal aid whereby those who cant are given free legal aid by the state.

Or you should have gotten a good lawyer and shared the proceed of the case with him, as the condition that he takes the case.

Patrick Harris

who was the company? You should Post his name and his name here and shame him in front of the world.

igbiki

Nigeria’s problems are all enunciated in Achebe’s The Trouble with Nigeria.

The greatest is that the fish has rotten from the head and they no longer give a damn.

Let us stop impunity corruption, mediocrity and self justice.

Rejoice Chiaka

Its just so Sad, one cant begin to imagine all the trouble he had gone to have his compensation paid. Even if the amount he is giving is incorrect? is 4.8 million enough to build a house? they have not even come close to giving the man his compensation due him. Only in Nigeria does the commoner suffer.

I can imagine if it were a relation of one of our ‘esteemed’ politicians we would have been hearing the staggering amount the Airline has paid with the Question (Are you Satisfied Sir?) Only God will help us.

auditor

….provided the pastor kept his accounting book up to date. Which books? afar jona o bere irungbon!. …malam don burn. you dey ask for his goaty!

sizzla sizzla jr

THE PASTOR IS A GOOD MAN.
This is Nigeria where jungle justice and animalistic mindset rules the society. How will they answer to your claim when action of taking human lives is NOT made known along with your claim. What was expected from the Pastor is that he should have throw a hand grenade bomb into that socalled building of DANA Air to call for the attention of Nigeria government and Judiciary system that he the Pastor lost properties need to be evaluated and compensated accordingly. Sorry to say that is the only language Nigeria system understand.

GbemigaO

Hear the spokesman for the company claiming that it is the responsibility of the insurance company and not Dana. So you do not hold the duty of care and ensure your insurance company pays. Incompetent staff!

Abdullah

Mr. OLu James Omosule﻿ is not afraid to take on powerful, big-money interests, which is why virtually every special interest is doing everything in their power to stop him from going to Aso Rock Villa. My fellow Nigerians, we have to come together to join this movement for Change and Elect Mr. OLu James Omosule as the next Nigerian President 2015

Join the movement for Change at www omosuleforpresident com to become a member, and it’s free. You can Share, E-mail, Forward, Copy and Paste this message to your friends and tell them to do the same.

Kilanta

Abeg advise Omosule well, he does not possess the acumen to handle the office. Emi e o gbe. Hes definitly going to be like the transgender from Otuoke. The common truth is Buhari is what our beloved country needs now.

MTN

Buhari cannot rule this country we are tired of his wickedness and brutality, let him convince the boko haram guys to drop thier arms and we will then consider him for election

obaf

So u believe is involved in Boko Haram? If he is, GEJ would have arrested him since. GEJ is desperately looking for anything to pin him down. Buhari is the only treat to GEJ 2015 election u think he will spare him if buhari is guilty? the corrupt people will sell you the story you want so as to continue their corruption act. Buhari stand to be the fit one to stand this with his military background, that OBJ didnt do.

ManofGod

Omosule is sick he better llook for solution from Synagogue Church

Kinzo

I wonder when policemen will stop harrassing journalists. It is getting out of hand and I think the police authorities need to do something fast

kene

Its so sad that this is what we have result to. Commoners not been compesated for their lose.

Olaolu

Nigeria is a lawless country sha. This Dana,after bribing the government, has been given permission to fly again while victims are still licking their wounds. Its disgusting really.

Fula

mr Daniel, get a smart lawyer, sack the former one. this is festus keyamo territory. they will pay even for damages not done. sior

concerned nigerian

over zealous Giwa Mohammed, go and fight boko haram. it is with unarmed civilians that you will claim to be doing your job. if you were that good, you should be in the special fighting squad. useless, senseless police officer. you will remain a corporal for a long time or you will be fired from the police. shame on you.

Anam Joseph

The Dana mgt shld please pay the pastor all his compensation for peace to reign.

http://www.facebook.com/duruejc Emmanuel Chukwuma Duru

Only in Naija can such a thing happen. No compensation, and d are flying.

kdirect

i think the pastor shouldnt av taken laws into his hands…also demanding 500m for property not worth more than 100m is criminal and absurd! coming from a supposed pastor? am disapointed! and dana air shld jst presurize the insurance firm to pay cos dat is their stock-in-trade,to frustrate d victims and divert their monies. insurance in dis country is warped. if u guys can buy new planes and invent convenient check-in options,paying compensation shldnt be a problem haba!…and for the over-zealous police officer, we all know what our yeye policemen at d grassroot can do,so no comments!

Beejay

Kdirect. Why must you talk like this? How do you know that the pastor’s properties were not worth more than N100m? Even if the pastor built the structures with N100m several years ago, are you saying the the replacement cost should still be N100m?

kdirect

bro,even if d props worth more than what i mentioned,atleast the man shdnt av taken laws into his hands and shld av directed his grievances to court or the insurers. wat insurance pple do is to dig into ur claims n if its nt worth it, dey look for ways to make u even get less dan wat ever u put forward as the real worth.i like the fact that u want us to reason the cost together unlike one ignorant adesina kuku.

adesina kuku

how much does you (kdirect) cost in the market,i cannot blame you,because you have no value to your generation,Dana destroy the pastor property and you said,how much does the building cost,shame on you

kdirect

u speak bad english so i cant join issues with you……mayb u shld help the pastor inflate d worth to 50billion..shame on ur linage!

kemmy

Why in God’s name will Dana not compensate this man ???????

Amukoko

As much as l sympathise with the Pastor, l have a question for him though. As a business man, didn’t he insure his business and property? If he did, he should be after his insurance company and not after Dana Air!
However, am made to understand that insuring businesses and private properties, aka household effects, against fire, theft, damages, loss, etc., is not the num. That’s the high price you pay for not doing that. I need to be educated on the insurance climate or environment in Nigeria, l must confess.
On another point. Does one require permission before taking photos of an incident in Nigeria? Isn’t it a public place and of public interest? Doesn’t the security forces know that publicly taken pictures can be of assistance in prevention and detection of crime? The various arms of the security agencies here relies a great ideal on that. No wonder there is zilch percentage rate of solved crimes in Nigeria. The recent Boston attack is a more recent case in point. The security agencies relied on the pictures taken by members of the public. When will Nigerian security agents wizen up the fact that they can’t function effectively without the cooperation of the members of the public in the discharge of their duties? They need a complete re-training and re-orientation. They also need a complete change of their mind-set to modern day policing and security enforcement.

iron bar

u reason like a kid..do insurance pay outs work in naija?do u kn all vehicles buy insurance just as a requirements.most car collisions u see gets no dime at the end of the day.beleieve u live in the moon not naija

Amukoko

We don’t need the insult, my friend. I might reason like a kid, but that’s what obtains in any civilised and normal society. and, no, l don’t live on the moon. I live in a society that functions normally. You obviously didn’t read my piece before accusing me of reasoning as a kid. You just shot yourself in the foot. Read and understand my piece.

Amukoko

If your system fail to institutionalise systems that should take care of such processes, am l the one to blame for lack of such? How can you put a vehicle on the road without safe guards to compensation should an eventuality happens? Am l to be blamed for such foolishness? Is that why you shoot from the hips? any wonder you have such problems in the country?

igbiki

We should at all times and by all means try and avoid self-justice. It was an act taken in desperation but it has helped to bring this case to the foreground and the public consciousness.

Pastor Omowunmi should seek out a good lawyer in the mould of Falana or Kayemo and make a N50billion claim against Dana for destruction of property and livelihood.It would take time, maybe years, but in the end, he will win.

He should forget about the police and their scheduled meetings and intended mediations, the police will not help him because they are part of the problems of Nigeria. They are just looking for something to chop.

The Punch reporter and Pastor Omowunmi should, in order to protect the general public and maintain the public peace and as a matter of urgency cause petitions to be written to the National Human Rights Commision, the IG and CP of Lagos, Police Service Commision and the Police Public Complaint Commission, if any, against Corporal Giwa Mohammed.

They should also cause a case for the claiming of damages to be brought against the errant Corporal for assualt and for causing bodily harm.

Let us all fight impunity, be it from the gov, companies or idividuals.

Emmanuel

Its really difficult to do business in Nigeria successfully for DANA with this case. I pity them!!!!

Tunde D

Angrily our judiciary is most corrupt, the only hope of the common man has been snatched by the rich, so we are lift to fight for ourselves, really BANANA republic? What a shame? Just don’t know what to say of that poor over zealous police man, i pittied him

Sunny

In fact a good government for the people cannot sell its people but defend them at all times. This kind of thing cannot happen in a sane country. DANA licence should not have been restored until the appropriate compensation is given to all those that were in involved in the crash. Government who careless about its citizens is not a government

isaac

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adesina kuku

you can imagine a nation where people are kill every day,yet the president refuse to do anything because he was so weak,Dana destroy an innocent pastor house,yet nothing was done,if BOKO Haram has kill Jonathan or any body in government these fool would have risen to get to the root,2015 will speak ,Nigeria are waiting

http://www.facebook.com/dave.abur Dave Abur

Na wa for Corp Giwa Mohammed. It’s these types of misinformed and disoriented police officers that go about willingly “accidentally” discharging their rifles. Does a journalist need permission to take pictures for news article? This kind of zealous, idiotic behaviour is borne out of ignorance of the law, lack of knowledge of the limit of their power, very poor orientation and illiteracy generally. The likesbof Gowa Mohammed need to be seriously oriented/enlightened particularly about the powers, duties and responsibilities of police officers, that this power is not absolute and an officer can be personally held liable for excess use or abuse of it. See section 361 of the Nigeria Police Regulations.

PDO

It is hard earned money, its not church money or prophet offering, I am not a jobless Man until June 3rd 2012. I have not earned a dime from the date of the incident. do you expect me to turn a beggar or where do I start from. If you don’t know what say, I will advice you remain quiet.

philip adekunle

There is no doubt in my mind everything has really gone very wrong in Nigeria.

Allowing Dana to continue business in Nigeria is purely madness.

http://twitter.com/ikp4success I’m george

You know all this things will be a piece of cake if you have insurance, that’s why is hard for Nigeria to have investors in the country. In America you can’t own so many properties without having insurance even the car u need insurance is against the law if you don’t have. Am not sure Dana even have money again, they even tried to pay imagine if the airline was owned by naija person…is good that Dana Airline receiving all this complaint next time they won’t fly faulty planes, a lesson to all other Airline industry operating in Nigeria or want to operate.